Bruno Retailleau accused of cheating in the famous game Intervilles ? A case dating back to 1997 resurfaces

The new Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, took part in the Intervilles program on July 2, 1997, as part of the amusement park team for the general knowledge test. A sequence that led to a vast cheating scandal denounced a few weeks later by the Canard Enchaîné.

The starting point of this whole story falls on July 2, 1997. Puy du Fou, in Vendée, welcomes the Pays d'Ancenis, a community of communes of Loire-Atlantique as an opponent. After the confrontation in the game of cow and other games, the two cities, represented by about fifty individuals, hand over to their intellectuals. They are tasked with answering a few general knowledge questions to end their game, among them, Bruno Retailleau, director of the Cinéscénie and former volunteer of the park and vice-president of the Vendée general council.

He hides to give the right answer

For his general knowledge questions, it is Jean-Pierre Foucault who is in charge and asks his questions to the "champions". The first question is asked to the competitors of the Puy du Fou. It is worth three points. Next to Foucault, a man forms, along his thigh, the number three with his fingers. The Puy du Fou team pretends to consult and at the end of the timer, which leaves time for reflection, launches: “A bit haphazardly, we agree to give the number”3.”The team will always respond with a number to give their answers, whereas Jean-Pierre Foucault never associated his answer with a number. But the essential is done for Puy du Fou, which is going to the final.

Cheating denounced by the Canard Enchaîné

In its edition of September 17, 1997, the satirical newspaper denounces cheating, by slipping into its pages photos showing the host with his three fingers formed in Jean-Pierre Foucault's back. He will be sued for defamation. According to a testimony collected by our colleagues at Libération "Bruno Retailleau could have seen the man next to Foucault give the right answers." This had already happened a year earlier during the final against the town of Pont Saint-Esprit, a commune in the Gard region that was facing Le Puy du Fou. Long legal proceedings followed for years.

Bruno Retailleau laughs a lot about it

The new Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, for his part, has never denied the facts. Invited in October 2017 on France Inter, the head of the LR senators even laughed heartily while listening to the column by comedian Charline Vanhoenacker. "Still, next to Balkany, Guéant, Woerth and all the cases, aren't you a little ashamed, you, with your story of cheating at Intervilles ?"